Earwigs can quickly become a nuisance around bathrooms, basements, gardens, garages, and other damp or sheltered spaces. Using the right combination of traps, sprays, and crawling-insect treatments can make controlling them much easier. The best earwig extermination products are designed to capture, repel, or eliminate these pests while remaining practical for common household use. In this guide, we review 10 effective earwig traps and sprays, including sticky glue boards, ready-to-use sprays, diatomaceous earth, and insecticide treatments for both indoor and outdoor problem areas.
1. Catchmaster Centipede XL Giant Glue Boards
Catchmaster Centipede XL Giant Glue Boards are designed for monitoring and trapping crawling pests such as earwigs, centipedes, spiders, crickets, and roaches. Their oversized adhesive surface gives crawling insects more opportunity to make contact with the trap, making them especially useful in basements, garages, utility rooms, and other sheltered areas. The simple glue-board design also works continuously without electricity, batteries, or complicated setup.
Key Features
- Includes multiple extra-large glue boards
- Wide adhesive surface for crawling pests
- Suitable for earwigs, centipedes, spiders, crickets, and roaches
- No electricity or batteries required
- Easy to place along walls and in hidden areas
- Useful for garages, basements, storage rooms, and utility spaces
- Helps monitor pest activity as well as capture insects
Why It’s Best for Larger Earwig Problem Areas
The extra-large design is the main reason this trap stands out. Earwigs often move along walls, underneath stored items, and around damp corners, so a wider sticky surface can improve the chance of intercepting them.
These boards are particularly practical in areas where the exact travel path is difficult to predict. A larger surface provides better coverage than very small glue traps and can also catch several crawling pests in the same location.
Adhesive Performance and Placement Flexibility
The strong adhesive surface is designed to hold crawling insects once they step onto the board. For better results, the traps should be positioned directly along baseboards, near cracks, behind appliances, or close to basement and garage entry points.
Because there are no moving parts, the traps can remain in place and provide continuous monitoring. Checking them regularly can also help reveal where earwig activity is strongest, allowing additional traps or treatments to be concentrated in those areas.
Overall Verdict
Catchmaster Centipede XL Giant Glue Boards are a practical choice for homeowners who want broad adhesive coverage in earwig-prone areas. Their large trapping surface, simple setup, and ability to capture several crawling pest species make them especially useful for basements, garages, and other indoor problem zones. For targeted monitoring without relying on powered equipment, they offer a straightforward and versatile pest-control option.
2. MaxGuard Extra Large Insect Glue Traps
MaxGuard Extra Large Insect Glue Traps are designed to catch a wide range of crawling pests, including earwigs, cockroaches, spiders, centipedes, and scorpions. Their oversized sticky surface provides more room for insects to make contact with the adhesive, while the pre-baited design helps simplify setup. These traps are especially useful in garages, basements, bathrooms, storage rooms, and other places where earwigs commonly move or hide.
Key Features
- Extra-large adhesive trapping surface
- Includes multiple pre-baited glue traps
- Suitable for earwigs and other crawling insects
- No electricity or batteries required
- Easy to position along walls and corners
- Useful for garages, basements, closets, and utility areas
Why It’s Best for Broad Indoor Coverage
The larger glue area makes MaxGuard especially practical when the exact path of earwigs is difficult to predict. Instead of relying on a narrow adhesive strip, these traps provide a wider contact zone that can intercept insects moving through open corners or along baseboards.
Their pre-baited format also reduces preparation, making them easy to place immediately in problem areas.
Trapping Performance and Everyday Use
For the best performance, the traps should be positioned close to walls, cracks, plumbing areas, or other locations where earwigs travel. The adhesive surface works continuously, making the trap useful for both catching pests and monitoring activity levels.
Because the trap has no moving parts, there is little maintenance beyond checking the board and replacing it when the adhesive becomes covered or dusty.
Overall Verdict
MaxGuard Extra Large Insect Glue Traps are a strong option for homeowners who want wide adhesive coverage and easy setup. Their oversized design, pre-baited construction, and versatility across several crawling pests make them especially useful for indoor earwig monitoring.
3. Catchmaster Extra Sticky Insect & Mouse Traps
Catchmaster Extra Sticky Insect & Mouse Traps provide a high-quantity solution for homes dealing with recurring earwig activity. The large 60-count package allows multiple traps to be placed throughout the property, making it easier to monitor several problem areas at the same time. Their strong adhesive surface is designed to capture crawling pests that travel along floors, baseboards, and hidden spaces.
Key Features
- Includes 60 glue boards
- Strong adhesive surface
- Suitable for earwigs and other crawling pests
- Large bulk package
- No powered components required
- Easy to distribute across multiple rooms
- Useful for long-term pest monitoring
Why It’s Best for Long-Term Earwig Control
The generous trap quantity is the main advantage of this option. Earwig problems can appear in more than one location, especially during warm or wet periods. Having 60 boards available allows users to keep traps active in basements, kitchens, garages, bathrooms, and utility rooms without running out quickly.
It also makes regular replacement easier.
Adhesive Strength and Placement Options
These traps work best when positioned directly along pest travel routes. Placing them behind appliances, under cabinets, near garage doors, or along basement walls can increase the likelihood of catching earwigs.
The adhesive remains passive and continuously active, making these boards useful for monitoring without sprays or electrical devices.
Overall Verdict
Catchmaster Extra Sticky Insect & Mouse Traps are particularly well suited for larger homes or recurring infestations. The 60-count package provides excellent placement flexibility, while the strong glue surface makes them practical for ongoing earwig detection and control.
4. ZingZap Mouse & Insect Glue Traps
ZingZap Mouse & Insect Glue Traps provide a versatile sticky-trap option for earwigs and other crawling household pests. The 13-pack offers enough boards for several key locations, while the adhesive design allows continuous passive trapping without electricity or mechanical parts. These traps are convenient for homeowners who want a straightforward way to monitor pest activity in kitchens, basements, bathrooms, garages, and storage areas.
Key Features
- Includes 13 glue traps
- Strong adhesive trapping surface
- Suitable for crawling insects and household pests
- Simple ready-to-use design
- No electricity required
- Easy to place around baseboards and entry points
- Disposable after use
Why It’s Best for Convenient Multi-Area Monitoring
The 13-trap package provides a useful balance between quantity and convenience. It is large enough to cover several problem areas without being excessive for smaller homes.
Earwigs often move between damp hiding places and wall edges, so distributing several traps around suspected activity zones can make it easier to identify their main pathways.
Practical Performance Around the Home
These traps can be placed near sinks, basement walls, bathroom corners, garage doors, and storage spaces. Positioning them directly against walls is particularly useful because earwigs commonly travel along edges rather than across open spaces.
The passive adhesive system also means the traps continue working without daily attention.
Overall Verdict
ZingZap Mouse & Insect Glue Traps are a practical choice for homeowners who want simple, flexible pest monitoring. Their 13-pack quantity, easy placement, and strong adhesive make them useful for tracking and trapping earwigs in several indoor locations.
5. Catchmaster Max-Catch Mouse & Insect Glue Traps
Catchmaster Max-Catch Mouse & Insect Glue Traps are designed for large-scale pest monitoring where many individual trapping points are needed. Their bulk format makes them especially useful for properties with multiple rooms, storage areas, garages, or recurring pest activity. The glue boards can capture earwigs along with other crawling pests, providing a versatile option for broader household monitoring.
Key Features
- Bulk supply of glue traps
- Strong adhesive surface
- Suitable for crawling insects
- Easy placement along pest pathways
- No spraying or powered setup required
- Useful for multiple rooms
- Suitable for repeated replacement and monitoring
Why It’s Best for Extensive Home Coverage
When earwigs appear in several parts of a home, using only a few traps may not provide enough information about where the problem begins. A bulk package makes it possible to create a wider monitoring network.
Traps can be placed near doors, baseboards, plumbing areas, basement corners, and other likely entry or hiding points.
Performance for Ongoing Monitoring
The adhesive boards work continuously once they are placed. By checking catches regularly, homeowners can identify high-activity zones and concentrate additional control methods in those locations.
This makes the product useful not only for capturing earwigs but also for understanding how they move through a property.
Overall Verdict
Catchmaster Max-Catch Glue Traps are best suited for users who need extensive coverage and frequent replacement options. Their bulk quantity and versatile adhesive design make them practical for larger properties or persistent earwig activity.
6. Granny Dee’s Silverfish & Earwig Killer Spray
Granny Dee’s Silverfish & Earwig Killer Spray offers a more direct treatment option for homeowners who prefer a ready-to-use liquid solution rather than glue traps alone. It is designed specifically for pests such as earwigs and silverfish, making it especially useful around baseboards, cracks, entry points, and other areas where these insects hide or travel.
Key Features
- Ready-to-use spray format
- Designed for earwigs and silverfish
- Suitable for targeted indoor treatment
- Easy application around cracks and baseboards
- Convenient trigger-spray bottle
- Useful for bathrooms, basements, kitchens, and storage spaces
- Can complement sticky traps for broader control
Why It’s Best for Targeted Earwig Treatment
Unlike glue traps, which depend on insects crossing an adhesive surface, a spray can be applied directly to problem areas. This makes Granny Dee’s particularly useful when you already know where earwigs are entering or hiding.
It can be applied around baseboards, cracks, door frames, and other concentrated areas of activity.
Application Performance and Practical Use
The ready-to-use bottle removes the need for mixing or measuring. This makes it convenient for quick applications around indoor problem spots.
For more effective pest management, the spray can be used alongside glue boards. Sticky traps help monitor movement, while the spray can target high-activity locations identified during monitoring.
Overall Verdict
Granny Dee’s Silverfish & Earwig Killer Spray is a practical option for homeowners who want a direct, easy-to-apply treatment specifically aimed at crawling pests. Its ready-to-use format and targeted application make it especially useful for localized earwig problems around cracks, baseboards, and sheltered indoor spaces.
7. NatureStop Indoor Earwig Repellent Spray
NatureStop Indoor Earwig Repellent Spray is designed for homeowners who want a convenient way to discourage earwigs from commonly used indoor areas. The ready-to-use spray can be applied around baseboards, entry points, cracks, and other locations where earwigs tend to travel. Its targeted application makes it particularly useful for treating specific problem zones rather than spraying an entire room.
Key Features
- Ready-to-use spray formula
- Designed to deter earwigs indoors
- Suitable for baseboards and entry points
- Convenient trigger-spray application
- Useful around cracks and pest pathways
- Appropriate for targeted spot treatment
- Can complement sticky traps and other monitoring methods
Why It’s Best for Indoor Earwig Deterrence
Earwigs frequently enter homes through small gaps around doors, windows, foundations, and utility openings. NatureStop provides a practical way to focus treatment around these potential pathways.
The spray format also makes it easier to reach narrow areas where placing a large glue board may not be convenient. This makes it particularly useful around baseboards, behind furniture, and near entrances.
Application and Everyday Performance
A ready-to-use formula reduces preparation because there is no mixing required. Users can concentrate application around known earwig activity zones and suspected entry points.
Combining a repellent treatment with strategically positioned glue traps may also provide better monitoring. The traps reveal where activity remains strongest, allowing subsequent applications to focus on those areas.
Overall Verdict
NatureStop Indoor Earwig Repellent Spray is a practical choice for targeted indoor pest management. Its straightforward spray format and ability to treat edges, cracks, and entry areas make it useful for homeowners who want an easy addition to a broader earwig-control strategy.
8. Safer Brand Garden Multi-Insect Control & Killer Spray
Safer Brand Garden Multi-Insect Control & Killer Spray is geared toward gardeners dealing with earwigs and other unwanted insects around plants and outdoor growing areas. The ready-to-use format makes treatment convenient, while the spray application provides good control over where the product is applied. It can be especially useful when earwig activity is concentrated around garden beds, container plants, or landscaped areas.
Key Features
- Ready-to-use garden insect spray
- Designed for multiple garden pests
- Suitable for targeted plant treatment
- Convenient trigger-spray bottle
- Useful around garden and landscaped areas
- No mixing required before application
- Helpful for localized outdoor infestations
Why It’s Best for Garden Earwig Problems
Earwigs can sometimes feed on seedlings, flowers, fruits, or tender plant material, particularly when populations become high. A garden-focused spray allows users to address insects where plant damage is occurring.
The targeted bottle also makes treatment more precise than broadly applying a product throughout an entire yard.
Outdoor Performance and Ease of Application
Because the formula comes ready to use, treatment can be focused on individual plants or areas showing pest activity. This is particularly convenient for smaller gardens, patios, raised beds, and container plants.
Users should always follow the product label regarding approved plants, application frequency, coverage, and precautions. Correct application is especially important when treating edible or flowering plants.
Overall Verdict
Safer Brand Garden Multi-Insect Control & Killer Spray stands out for outdoor earwig activity around plants. Its convenient ready-to-use design and targeted application make it especially practical for gardeners who need more focused treatment rather than whole-property pest control.
9. Bonide Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer
Bonide Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer offers a dry treatment option for managing earwigs and other crawling insects. Unlike liquid sprays or glue boards, this product can be applied as a fine powder in appropriate pest-travel areas according to its label. It is particularly useful for homeowners who want another treatment format for cracks, edges, and locations where crawling insects frequently pass.
Key Features
- Powder-based crawling insect treatment
- Designed for multiple crawling pests
- Suitable for targeted application
- No electrical equipment required
- Useful around pest pathways and entry zones
- Can complement traps and other control methods
- Convenient for areas where liquid sprays may be less practical
Why It’s Best for Crawling Pest Pathways
Earwigs spend much of their time moving across surfaces and hiding in protected areas. A properly applied dust treatment can be useful in locations where these pests routinely travel.
The powder format also gives users another option when they do not want to rely entirely on sticky traps or liquid sprays. It can be incorporated into a broader pest-management approach.
Performance and Proper Application
Diatomaceous-earth products generally work best when kept dry and applied according to the manufacturer’s directions. Moisture can affect the performance of some dust treatments, making correct placement important.
Care should also be taken to follow all label instructions regarding application areas, protective measures, and cleanup. Using excessive amounts is unnecessary; proper placement matters more than heavy coverage.
Overall Verdict
Bonide Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer is a useful alternative for homeowners who prefer a dry pest-control treatment. Its powder format makes it suitable for targeted crawling-pest pathways and gives users another tool for managing earwig activity alongside traps, sprays, and moisture reduction.
10. Ferti-lome Spinosad Soap Insecticide Ready-to-Use
Ferti-lome Spinosad Soap Insecticide Ready-to-Use provides a convenient spray treatment for gardeners managing various chewing and garden pests. Its ready-to-use bottle eliminates mixing and allows more controlled application around affected plants and landscaped areas. For users dealing with earwig activity outdoors, it can serve as part of a broader garden pest-management program when used according to the product label.
Key Features
- Ready-to-use insecticide spray
- Convenient trigger bottle
- Designed for garden pest management
- No mixing or measuring required
- Suitable for targeted outdoor applications
- Useful around affected plants and garden areas
- Easy to integrate into an existing pest-control routine
Why It’s Best for Targeted Garden Treatment
Garden earwig problems often require treatment close to the locations where feeding or hiding is occurring. A ready-to-use spray provides more control over application than treatments intended for broad lawn coverage.
This makes Ferti-lome particularly convenient for flower beds, vegetable areas, shrubs, and other specific garden zones when permitted by the label.
Application Performance and Convenience
The biggest advantage is ease of use. Because the formula comes prepared, homeowners can concentrate on treating problem areas without measuring concentrates.
Garden insecticides should always be used exactly as directed. Paying attention to approved plants, application intervals, environmental conditions, and other label requirements helps ensure the product is used appropriately.
Overall Verdict
Ferti-lome Spinosad Soap Insecticide is a convenient option for gardeners who want a ready-to-use treatment for outdoor pest problems. Its targeted spray application and simple setup make it particularly practical for localized infestations where earwigs are appearing alongside other garden pests.
FAQs
1. What is the best way to get rid of earwigs?
A combination approach usually works better than relying on one method. Sticky traps can monitor and catch earwigs, while appropriately labeled sprays or treatments can address active problem areas. Reducing excess moisture and sealing entry points can also help prevent recurring infestations.
2. Where should I place earwig traps?
Place sticky traps along baseboards, behind appliances, underneath sinks, near basement walls, around garage entrances, and close to other dark or damp locations. Positioning traps directly against walls often works well because earwigs commonly travel along edges.
3. Can earwig spray be used indoors and outdoors?
That depends on the individual product. Some sprays are intended for indoor use, while others are designed specifically for gardens or outdoor areas. Always check the product label before applying any pesticide or repellent.
4. Why do I keep finding earwigs inside my house?
Earwigs are attracted to cool, damp, sheltered environments. Excess moisture, foundation gaps, poorly sealed doors, plumbing areas, and damp basements can make a home more attractive to them. Correcting these conditions can help reduce future activity.
5. Are sticky traps enough to control a large earwig infestation?
Sticky traps are useful for catching earwigs and identifying high-activity areas, but a significant infestation may require additional control measures. Moisture reduction, sealing cracks, removing outdoor hiding places, and using appropriately labeled pest treatments can provide more comprehensive control.
